Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates three projects to bolster inland waterways on Brahmaputra in Dibrugarh

Guwahati: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three major inland waterways infrastructure projects on National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra)

The projects include the Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel, the Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri, and the renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Dibrugarh.

Addressing the gathering, Sonowal said the projects reflect the dynamic governance model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that seeks rapid development without losing cultural identity.


“Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, we are moving ahead with a clear vision of Vikas and Virasat. We are striving toward progress and economic development while preserving our roots, our heritage and our culture. The Brahmaputra is not just a river; it is our lifeline, our history and our future,” Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Sonowal said the newly inaugurated infrastructure will strengthen logistics, enhance passenger movement and unlock fresh opportunities for trade and tourism in the Northeast.

The Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel has been developed as part of a modern tourist-cum-cargo terminal integrating customs, immigration and IWAI administrative functions within a single complex. The facility includes dedicated arrival and departure waiting halls, cargo storage areas, administrative blocks, staff amenities and integrated security systems, aimed at improving operational efficiency along NW-2 and facilitating trade under the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes.

The Dhubri Customs and Immigration Complex is designed to enhance regulatory oversight and boost export-import operations in western Assam, positioning the town as a strategic gateway for inland water transport and cross-border commerce with Bangladesh and Bhutan.

The renovated Heritage Building at Dibrugarh combines restoration of architectural features with upgraded operational infrastructure. Officials said the building will serve IWAI’s administrative requirements on NW-2 while also contributing to riverine tourism and preserving the region’s architectural legacy.

“For six decades, our most precious asset — the mighty Brahmaputra — was neglected and underutilized by the Congress, despite its immense potential to transform the economy of Assam and the entire Northeast. Today, under the visionary and inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, we are correcting that historic neglect. We are reclaiming the Brahmaputra as a national growth engine — strengthening connectivity, empowering local communities, boosting trade and tourism, and building a future where development flows as powerfully and purposefully as this great river itself,” Sonowal said.

Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 20 rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways, with the Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31) and Kopili (NW-57) are being actively developed.

The projects are expected to reduce logistics costs, strengthen cross-border trade, improve passenger and cargo movement and reinforce the Brahmaputra’s role as a dependable and sustainable economic corridor for the Northeast.